Holiday Baby Names

Boy and girl names that hint at the reason for the season

As we speak, one of my dearest friends is pregnant — she’s due any day now — with her second child. She and her husband know the baby is a girl, and although they’ve scoured through thousands of baby names, they’ve settled on two girl names that reflect the holiday season: Noelle Christina.

If you are looking for baby names that pay homage to the Advent and Christmas seasons, there are plenty of options that aren’t as obvious as the above example. Simply looking for girl or boy names that have meanings tied to the holiday season can help you find dozens of options connected to this special time of year.

Names That Mean “God”

The name Emmanuel means “God is with us,” but there are many other choices that share this meaning, or one very similar to it. Boys’ names include:

Daniel (meaning: “God is my judge”)

Elijah (meaning: “The Lord is my God”)

Gabriel (meaning: “God is my strength”)

Joel (meaning: “God will be willing”)

Seth (meaning: “Appointed”)

There are plenty of girls’ names with meanings tied to God, such as:

Bridget (meaning: “Exalted”)

Elizabeth (meaning: “God is my oath”)

Eliana (meaning: “God has answered”)

Michaela (meaning: “Who is like God?”)

Tyra (meaning: “God of battle”)

Names That Mean “Light”

One of the enduring themes of the Christmas season is that Jesus was the light of the world, hence the star above his manger in Bethlehem the night of his birth. Baby names with these meanings are more likely to be for girls:

Danica

Elaine

Ellen

Helena

Lucy

Stella

Names With A Virtuous Meaning

Baby names based on virtues — like Charity, Faith, Hope, and Joy, just to name a few — are pretty well known; but there are plenty of names for boys and girls that share the same meaning.

Names That Mean “Blessed”

Asher

Barack

Bennett

Gwyneth

Names That Mean “Faith”

Anisa

Imani

Vera

Trygg

Names That Mean “Joy”

Abigail

Beatrice

Farah

Leslie

Names That Mean “Love”

Amy

Amanda

Cari

Conor

David

Kayla

Philip

These are just a few of the hundreds of examples of baby names tied to the holiday season that don’t scream “Merry Christmas!” Which ones are your favorite? Which did I overlook? Which should be added to this list?